Henry Dobson

The Honourable
Henry Dobson
The Honourable Henry Dobson
17thPremier of Tasmania
	In office; 17 August 1892 – 14 April 1894
Preceded by	Philip Fysh
Succeeded by	Edward Braddon
SenatorforTasmania
	In office; 29 March 1901 – 30 June 1910
Personal details
Born	24 December 1841; Hobart Town,Van Diemen's Land
Died	10 October 1918(aged 76); Hobart,Tasmania,Australia
Spouse	Emily Dobson
Profession	Lawyer

Henry Dobson(24 December 1841 – 10 October 1918) was an Australian politician, who served as a member of theTasmanian House of Assemblyand later of theAustralian Senate.He was the 17thPremier of Tasmaniafrom 17 August 1892 to 14 April 1894.

Early life and legal career

Dobson was born inHobart Town,Van Diemen's Land(nowTasmania),^[1]the son of John Dobson and full brother toAlfredand half-brother toWilliam Lambert Dobson,^[2]andFrank Dobson.^[3]Dobson was educated atThe Hutchins Schooland worked for a merchant firm before commencing legal training with Allport, Robson & Allport. He was admitted to theTasmanian Barin 1846, and partnered withWilliam Giblinfrom 1865 to 1870, and was asenior partnerin thelaw firmDobson, Mitchell & Allport (started by his father).^[1]

Political career

Tasmanian House of Assembly

Dobson's political career began on 12 August 1891, when he was elected to theTasmanian House of Assemblyrepresenting the electorate ofBrighton.He was quickly madeLeader of the Oppositionthe next month, and becamePremier of Tasmaniaon 17 August 1892 after the fall ofPhilip Fysh's government.^[1]

Dobson had a keen interest in education, and introducedcompulsory educationlegislation into the Tasmanian parliament. He also promoted Tasmania as a tourist destination and fruit-growing centre, attributes which it remains known for today. Economic factors required him to make difficult decisions, and when a proposed retrenchment program was rejected in the Parliament, Dobson obtained adissolutionfrom theGovernor,and then resigned as Premier on 14 April 1894 when the situation remained unchanged after the election.^[1]

After retiring as Premier, Dobson remained in his seat until he retired on 9 March 1900.^[4]

Australian Senate

Dobson was a keen supporter of theFederation of Australia,and when federation took place in 1901, Dobson was elected as a member of the firstAustralian Senatefor Tasmania. He remained in the Senate for over nine years, but retired when he lost the election on 30 June 1910.^[1]He served asChairman of Committeesfrom 1908 to 1910.^[5]^[6]

Later life

After retiring from politics, Dobson turned his efforts to promoting Tasmanian tourism. He founded and was president of the Tasmanian Tourist Association from 1893,^[7]helped found the Tourist and Information Bureau and the Scenery Preservation Board in 1915,^[8]and was chairman of the National Park Board from 1917 to 1918.^[9]

Dobson died on 10 October 1918 inHobart.^[10]

References

^^a ^b ^c ^d ^eDollery, E M (1981)."Dobson, Henry (1841 - 1918)".Australian Dictionary of Biography.Vol. 8. Canberra: National Centre of Biography,Australian National University.pp. 311–312.ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7.ISSN 1833-7538.OCLC 70677943.Retrieved27 December2022.
^ Dollery, E M."Dobson, Alfred (1848–1908)".Australian Dictionary of Biography.Canberra: National Centre of Biography,Australian National University.ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7.ISSN 1833-7538.OCLC 70677943.Retrieved17 October2012.
^Barrow, Elizabeth."Dobson, Frank Stanley (1835–1895)".Australian Dictionary of Biography.Canberra: National Centre of Biography,Australian National University.ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7.ISSN 1833-7538.OCLC 70677943.Retrieved20 October2012.
^"Dobson, Henry".Members of theParliament of Tasmania.Retrieved24 July2022.
^Bennett, Scott."Dobson, Henry (1841–1918)".The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate.Retrieved27 December2022.
^"Appendix 3―Deputy Presidents and Chairmen of Committees (1901–2009)".Parliament of Australia.Retrieved10 September2017.
^1384.6 - Statistics - Tasmania, 2005,Australian Bureau of Statistics,9 September 2005.
^"News of THE DAY".The Mercury.Vol. CVI, no. 14, 685. Tasmania, Australia. 30 January 1917. p. 4.Retrieved8 September2024– via National Library of Australia.
^"MEETINGS, ETC".The Mercury.Vol. CVI, no. 14, 862. Tasmania, Australia. 6 June 1917. p. 6.Retrieved8 September2024– via National Library of Australia.
^"Death of Mr. Henry Dobson".Zeehan and Dundas Herald.11 October 1918. p. 2.Retrieved12 January2020– via Trove.

Political offices
Preceded by Philip Fysh	Premier of Tasmania 1892 – 1894	Succeeded by Edward Braddon

[adb-1] Dollery, E M (1981)."Dobson, Henry (1841 - 1918)".Australian Dictionary of Biography.Vol. 8. Canberra: National Centre of Biography,Australian National University.pp. 311–312.ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7.ISSN 1833-7538.OCLC 70677943.Retrieved27 December2022.

[2] Dollery, E M."Dobson, Alfred (1848–1908)".Australian Dictionary of Biography.Canberra: National Centre of Biography,Australian National University.ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7.ISSN 1833-7538.OCLC 70677943.Retrieved17 October2012.

[3] Barrow, Elizabeth."Dobson, Frank Stanley (1835–1895)".Australian Dictionary of Biography.Canberra: National Centre of Biography,Australian National University.ISBN 978-0-522-84459-7.ISSN 1833-7538.OCLC 70677943.Retrieved20 October2012.

[Tas_parl-4] "Dobson, Henry".Members of theParliament of Tasmania.Retrieved24 July2022.

[Au_Senate-5] Bennett, Scott."Dobson, Henry (1841–1918)".The Biographical Dictionary of the Australian Senate.Retrieved27 December2022.

[6] "Appendix 3―Deputy Presidents and Chairmen of Committees (1901–2009)".Parliament of Australia.Retrieved10 September2017.

[7] 1384.6 - Statistics - Tasmania, 2005,Australian Bureau of Statistics,9 September 2005.

[8] "News of THE DAY".The Mercury.Vol. CVI, no. 14, 685. Tasmania, Australia. 30 January 1917. p. 4.Retrieved8 September2024– via National Library of Australia.

[9] "MEETINGS, ETC".The Mercury.Vol. CVI, no. 14, 862. Tasmania, Australia. 6 June 1917. p. 6.Retrieved8 September2024– via National Library of Australia.

[10] "Death of Mr. Henry Dobson".Zeehan and Dundas Herald.11 October 1918. p. 2.Retrieved12 January2020– via Trove.

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